Label: Teg Publishing

Teg Publishing (Norra Kust, Magnus Ekelund) has signed Maria Eriksson (The Concretes, Santa Maria, Heikki) and will be releasing her debut solo album på svenska "Stjäl det du behöver" early next year. Teg has also officially picked up Mattias Alkbergs Begravning, the new band from The Bear Quartet frontman, and will be releasing their new album next year as well.

Been meaning to get this written up for over a week now, but I haven't found the time and now that I'm about head out on vacation to Sweden for a couple weeks, I figure I need to get at least something up. So without further ado, here's my picks for the best releases of 2012 so far (in alphabetical order):

Infectious in the best possible way, not like a dreaded sommarplåga or a social disease. In fact, all three songs from the new single "Supernova", including brilliant b-side covers of Vapnet and Bingo, are phenomenal. Likewise, so is Magnus Ekelund & Stålet's upcoming full-length "Det definitiva drevet". Same goes for Teg Publishing labelmates Norra Kust, whose self-titled debut was just released today and is now on Spotify. Essential listening all around!

Brand new video from Magnus Ekelund & Stålet for their superb single "Supernova", the first from the band's forthcoming album "Det definitiva drevet" which will be out on May 16 via Teg Publishing/Playground Music. Check out the full 3-track single via Spotify with b-side covers of Vapnet and Bingo -- you will not be disappointed!

There's a new Mattias Alkberg album (and book!) being released on September 21 via Teg Publishing and it's called "Anarkist". The first single "Asterism & obelisk" is out now and, in addition to hearing the streams embedded here, can be listened to at Matti's website where he also has the lyrics posted: http://www.mattiasalkberg.se/

It's Memorial Day here in the US and I don't have to do any "real" work so I'm not gonna spend any more time in front of the computer than I have to, but I am going to take the time to post a brand new single from ex-Elmo frontman Magnus Ekelund recorded with new backing band Stålet along with a little help from once-reclusive Swedish pop icon Jakob Hellman. Yes, the news as reported back in February was true and now the final result is ready for release via Teg Publishing, the label run by The Bells/Jonas Teglund, and will be followed by the full-length album "Svart flagg" ("Black flag") on July 6. The Swedish-literate can read more at Magnus' website, but I suggest just listening and letting the sound of his epic melancholy carry you away.

The Teg Publishing label website/webshop, home of new band The Bells, is now open: http://www.tegpublishing.se/
Lots of related stuff for sale, including releases from Park Hotell, Convoj, Mattias Alkberg, Cult of Luna, etc.

Introducing The Bells, a new Luleå-affiliated project featuring Jonas Teglund (Park Hotell, Neverna), Peter Nuottaniemi (The Bear Quartet) and Johan Forslind. They have a full-length album on the way entitled "Threads" which was produced by renown musical genius/recluse Björn Olsson and will be released via the band's own Teg Publishing in October. Unsurprisingly, it sounds a lot like a mix of Park Hotell and Bear Quartet (circa "Personality crisis"/"My war), which of course is perfectly fine by me (and should be for you too). Four tracks are up for streaming preview at the band's website, my favorite being the ominous/gloomy "Outside". Much like the Tsukimono track I posted earlier today, the song's spaciousness is a perfect companion to the sound of rain; furthermore, it hearkens back to some of BQ's most powerful work such as "Walking out". Resigned and reflective, revealed by severe simplicity, and yes, starkly beautiful; a song that says a lot with very few words/notes.